Versatile Texan RBs serve as catalysts

Updated 10:28 pm, Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Houston’s Arian Foster (left) has worked hard to become a complete running back. His 141.6 total yards per game last season led all non-quarterbacks.

Houston’s Arian Foster (left) has worked hard to become a complete running back. His 141.6 total yards per game last season led all non-quarterbacks.

Photo: Scott Halleran, Getty Images

Versatile Texan RBs serve as catalysts

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HOUSTON — Arian Foster's father was a wide receiver, so as a kid he would run routes with him — an early preparation for his future career.

“I've always had soft hands and route-running ability,” the Texans star running back said. “Coming out of college, I prided myself in being able to be a three-down back, because there's not a lot of them. Usually you have guys who can run but can't catch, or that can catch but can't block, or that can block but can't run. So I prided myself on being a triple-threat running back because that's what's needed in the NFL.”

The Texans' offense builds through the running game, a rarity in the NFL. But the Texans aren't alone. On Sunday, they will face a team that operates similarly — the Baltimore Ravens. So far, the method is working for both teams. Both made the playoffs in 2011, and both are the only teams in the AFC with winning records this season.

A big part of that success involves running backs on each team who can do more than just grind out rushing yards.

“I just think that we evolve with the change,” Ravens running back Ray Rice said. “The change is being the pass-first league. Arian Foster can catch just as good as he can run, but obviously we all get paid to run the ball, but we get paid to make plays as well. I just think the way he catches the ball sets him aside from other backs as well.”

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Rice and Foster are in the top 10 in all-purpose yards among non-quarterbacks. Foster averages 105.5 total yards per game, down from 141.6 last season, and Rice averages 119.2.

Last season, Foster led among non-quarterbacks, while Rice averaged 129.3 total yards.

Rice's coach disagrees with the idea that wins depend on the potency of a team's passing game.

“That to me is not just an overstatement, it's a foolish statement,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It's true that you have to be able to throw the ball to gain lots of yards and probably score points. But you need to be able to run the ball too, and if you can't stop the run, which we found out the last two weeks, it sure makes it tough sledding.”

It might seem like an old-school philosophy, but a glance at the league standings indicates a great passing offense doesn't always win games. The two top passing teams statistically — the Saints and the Lions — are in last place in their divisions.

“You look at New England, a traditionally passing team, they're running the ball this year very effectively,” Foster said. “It's just one of those things the media picked up and kind of ran with. I think you win games how you can win them. Sometimes you run, and sometimes you pass.”